Islam and Muslims

WHAT IS ISLAM Islam is an Arabic word that means ‘to surrender’ A Muslim is ‘one who surrenders to Allah alone’ Islam is not solely a religion- but is ‘a complete way of life’

ISLAMIC BELIEF: GOD Muslims believe that There is only one God (the same as Jews and Christians) God is the being who created humans, animals, plants the world and the whole universe We cannot visualize (see) God God in Arabic is Allah

ISLAMIC BELIEF: BASICS & SIMILARITIES Muslims believe that God sent many messengers to mankind called prophets (Muslims believe in Adam, Abraham, Moses Jesus and other prophets) God sent many books to mankind (including the Torah and Bible) There is an afterlife – Paradise and Hell and Angels such as Gabriel, Michael, Rafael.

THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM There are five pillars in Islam These pillars are the basic duties of all Muslims There are other commands and laws that Muslim follow – and that is called the Shari’ah

THE FIRST PILLAR: SHAHADAH The first pillar is the testification of faith It translates as ‘There is no God except Allah, and Muhammed is the messenger’ If one recites this with sincerity and believing in it, he or she is a Muslim

THE SECOND PILLAR: SALAT Muslims pray 5 times a day Before each prayer, Muslims wash themselves (called ablution) Muslims do not interrupt their prayers, even though they only take a few minutes Prayers are performed at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and night

THE THIRD PILLAR: ZAKAT Zakat is a charity that Muslims give from their wealth If they have savings over a certain amount, they give 2.5% of it to charity each year There are specific categories that it can be given to such as poor and needy Extra charity can be given and is called Sadaqa

THE FOURTH PILLAR: SAWM Sawm means fasting and this is done during the month of Ramadan Ramadan is a month from the Islamic calendar Muslims do not eat or drink anything from before sunrise to after sunset There are also other restrictions

THE FIFTH PILLAR: HAJJ The fifth pillar is to go on the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime It is done at a specific time of the Islamic calendar About two million people go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe. Male pilgrims wear special simple clothes which strip away distinctions of class and culture so that all stand equal before God.

Muslims only eat meat that is halaal, and do not eat pork Muslims do not drink alcohol Muslims can eat Jewish Kosher meat, under certain circumstances. DIETARY ISSUES

Muslims dress in a particular way; women wear the hijab, Muslim men do not wear gold or silk. Muslims are very modest and shy and should have very high morals. In Islam, just as in Judaism, men and women who are not related do not touch each other even to shake hands. GENDER ISSUES

All we need is Love and Tolerance SUMMARY

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